Going to be on Level 2 for my second time this year. Was able to pass Level 1 at the 35% pass rate but couldnt pull it this time. Fail band 8. Just trying to get an idea how many tries it took you awesome Level 3’ers to get over the Level 2 hump.
I failed L2 in 2006 when the pass rate was 48%. Didn’t have bands then, but I did not do well and would have for sure been in band 5 or less. Passed it in 2007 when the pass rate was much lower at 40%. That’s the hardest I’ve ever studied for anything in my life. Make sure you work hard on your area’s of weakness and hit the ethics hard and I’ll bet you are successful next year.
Okay, I’ll admit it - I passed in 2009 on my fourth attempt. I am nothing if not stubborn. I failed with band 8 in 2008 and was able to get equity over 70% in 2009. That was the only material difference between the two years. If you have spots below 50%, try to get those to the middle, and make sure the big 3 - FSA, Equities and Ethics are over 70%. Good luck.
Failed 2000 Level 1 exam - I was in way over my head and had no idea what I was getting into. Passed 2007 Level 1 exam - seven years was just about enough time to gather the courage to try again. Failed 2008 Level 2 exam - signed up early, then later decided that I wouldn’t be able to devote the time to it, but sat for exam anyway - I already paid for it, right??? Passed 2009 Level 2 exam - started late in the game (late January) but gave up on the rest of my life for 4 months. At best, this is a 10 year process for me - beat that!
passed L2 in '08 on my 3rd attempt…which followed passing L1 on my 3rd attempt in '07. failed L3 this year - band 9. Hopefully not developing a pattern here.
So far passed both Lvl 1 and Lvl 2 on 1st try. Pure luck.
passed both first time. i don’t know about luck. i studied my a** off!
You’ll get it this time, Skip; just knuckle down and get it done.
L1 first shot L2 first shot L3 third shot next june probably or may just leave at cleared L2…
passed both lvl 1 and 2 on first attempt but i believe i was the luckiest guy who stood next to the lvl 2 highest band 10 candidate
Failed L1 June 2007; first time; no idea what I got myself into Pass L1 Dec 2007; studied like no tomorrow Pass L2 Jun 2009 first time; studied my @ss off Not sure when I will take L3; I just recently found out I am being mobilized back to Active Duty and going to Afghanistan. Good luck to all L3ers next yr!
caddyshack37: Good luck and stay safe!
goes to eleven Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Okay, I’ll admit it - I passed in 2009 on my > fourth attempt. I am nothing if not stubborn. I’m not ashamed to admit that I also took FOUR tries to pass Level II. On top of that, I passed Level I in NINETEEN NINETY NINE. Yes, ten years ago. I sat for Level II in 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2009 (when I passed). I also paid for the exam, and didn’t bother going, in 2000, 2003 & 2008. Sad but true. Honestly, though, I never applied myself to properly preparing for the exam until this year. I took it one year after studying for about 20 hours (it was during my second year of my full-time MBA program). I passed Level I on my first try after studying like mad - it took me ten years, an MBA degree, and a family to get the motivation to study like that again.
Failed L1 December 2007: started late and didn’t fully appreciate what I had gotten myself in to. Passed L1 June 2008: killed it (I probably got >90% on the morning) Passed L2 June 2009: felt confident leaving both sections I studied my ass off. 494 hours at L1 (combined for both attempts). 433.5 hours at L2. I logged all study time to the nearest .25 hour in case you’re wondering.
It’s been awhile since I saw Ferris Bueller, but didn’t he fail L2… NINE TIMES…
stevec Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I’m not ashamed to admit that I also took FOUR > tries to pass Level II. On top of that, I passed > Level I in NINETEEN NINETY NINE. Wasn’t the pass rate 64% in 1999?
passed L1 on the first try. Failed L2 2 times, passed it on the 3rd try this June. Signed up for L3 for next June – already got the books, and beginning to read… 
Good luck, and don’t let this beast discourage you.
It is easy to let a fail mess with your head. I will start in Novemeber and try to get er done this time.
4Tay Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > Wasn’t the pass rate 64% in 1999? Yes it was. The Level II pass rate was 41% last year, one of the three lowest rates in history. Only 2007 (40%) and 2004 (32%) were lower. Your point?
kyle1984 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Passed L2 June 2009: felt confident leaving both > sections > > I studied my ass off. 494 hours at L1 (combined > for both attempts). 433.5 hours at L2. I logged > all study time to the nearest .25 hour in case > you’re wondering. kyle1984 congrats to you, I remember having this convo with you on the L2 board, I logged my hours to the nearest half hour and totaled 396. Great that we both got by. For me, logging the hours just allows me to look back at what I’ve done as evidence that I’m not trying to cut corners. After failing L2 previously, I remember thinking about how much I’d studied but not really being able to quantify it. But after taking this test this time, I knew with certainty that pass or fail, I busted my ass. I’m also a long distance runner and we’re into keeping a log of our miles so maybe that’s why it appeals to me…